Seed planting package



Feb 2, 1943. s. KIRSCHENBAUM 239702 Filed April 15, 1939 Patentegi Feb. 2, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEED PLANTING PACKAGE Samuel Kirschenbaum, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application April 13, 1939, Seria'l N0. 267,628

9 Claims.

time is so deslgned as to retard the growth of weeds between the seeds.

Another object of my invention is to proVide a. seed planting package or tape of the char acter descrlbed which shall comprise relatively few and simple parts, which shal1 be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy I;o assemble and which at the same time shall bea general improvement in the art.

Other Objects f this invention will in part;

be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention acc'ordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations 01: elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the eonstruction hereinaftdar described, and of which the scope of applicatkm will be indicated in the claims.

In the accompanying -drawing in which is shown one of the varlous p: ssible embodiments of 'his invention,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a seed planting package constructed in accordance with my invention und having portiom of the top and intermediate layers turned back to reveal the interior canstructlon thereof;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on the 1ine 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a p1an view of a portion of a seed plantlng pax:kage similar to Fi. '1 but illustrating a. modified form 015 my invention;

Flg. 4 is a. crosssectional view taken substantially on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a p1an view similar bo Fig. 3 butjllustrating still another mqdified form of mYinvention;

Fig. 6 is a cl'oss-se0tion.l view taken substantially on the line 6-5 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a p1an view of my inventi on as applied to a seed tape.

In the type of seed planting tapes and packages heretofore employed, it has beenfound that when a. heavy rain occurs soon after the seed package has been properly positioned in the ground for planting,the seeds contaimgd in the package Wer Washed away With the rain and thus the desired planting arrangement or layout was destroyed. In accordance with my invention, I haveprovided a seed planting packai;e

so constructed as to obvlate the above described.

disadvantage and which at the same time will retard the growth of weeds between the rows of seeds until such time as the plants have started I;o grow.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, there is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a seed planting package constructed in accordance wlth my inven= tion and comprising a. laminated sheet structure III consisting of a top layer II, bottom layer I2 and an iritermediate layer I3. The unter 1ayers H and I2 are preferably made of a porous materlal which will dislntegrate after being in the ground for a. predetermimgd period of time. The intermediate layer I3 is preferably made of porous fabric or any other similar suitable material which will not disintegrate clue to meisture. The layer I3 may be provlded' with a. plurality of through apertureg I5 arranged in any desired spaced formation and adapted to serve as pockets in which the seeds I I areplaced.

In constructing the seedpackage of my Invention, the bottom layer I2 may first be positioned on a flat surface after which the fabric layer I3 Is superimposed therein. The seeds Ifl are then placed in the seed pocketg I5a iqrmed by the apertures I5, after which the top layer II is superimposed on the fabric 1ayer I3 I:o hold.

the seeds captive In the seed pockets. The layers II, I2 and I3 ma be maintained in superimposed relationship by any suitable connecting means such as, for example, horizontal and vertical rows I 6 and I'I of adhesive material interposed btween the fabric layer I3 and each of the layers II and"l2.

II: is thus seen from the abovedescribed coustru'cti0n that when the ground has been proper1y prepared and the seed planting package III placed therein, and covered over wlth a thin layer of earth, if desired, hea.vy ralns occurrin before the seeds have had sucient time to take If it is desired to remove the fabric layer I3 fter the seeds have grown to a predetermined height, the said layer I3. insteadnf being made of a single piece,;may be constructed of a. plurelity of strips l3a lieving their longitudinal edges contiguously disposed. Eech o! the strips l3a mey -then be correspondingly notched et speced intervels elong their longitudinal edges to form the seed pockets I5. By this construction it is seen thet when lt is desired to remove the iebric leyer I3, eech of the strips I3a mey be seperetely stripped oft the ground without ceu'sing demege to the plant.

In the form oi my invention illustreted in Fies. 1 end 2, it is noted thet the errengement end leyout of the seeds is determined beiore the packege is completed. In Fies. 3 end 4, however I heve shown e modifled form of my invention in which the seed peckege is of lemineted construction similer to thet shown in Flgs. 1 end 2 but in which the top leyer II is provided with slits II disposed in register with end for the purpose o! obteining eccess to the seed pockets Iia. The seid seed pockets lia end the oorresponding slits I8 in one of the outer leyers II or I2 mey be indiscriminetely scettered over the entire eree 013 the peckeg e end disposed reletively closely edjecent to eech other so thet the user mey design his own errengement or leyout of seeds by selectively iilllng eny number 015 desired pockets Ia.

. In order 1:0 prevent the curling up er opening of the portions l Ia edjacent the slits I8. e gummed sticker I9 shown in dotted lines in Fix. 3 mey be employed to prevent such condition.

In Figs. 5 end 6 I heve shown e form o1 my invention similer to thet shown in Fies. 3 end 4, but in which, insteed 01 the slit II which is errenged in register with the seed pockets l8a, I provide e full eperture 20 in the top leyer II corresponding to end in elignment with the seed pocket epertures II! in the iebrlc leyer I2. In

this form of my invention I provide an edhesively etteched cover member 2l which mey .be pertielly removed in order to insert the seeds in the pockets i5a efter which the member 2I mey be reseeled es shown in Fig. 5.

In Fig. 7 I heve shown my invention es epp lied to e seed tepe end designed so thet e single longitudinal row of seeds mey be plented. 'Ihe structure o1 this form ol' my invention is similer to thet shown in Fies, 1 to 6 except thet the intermediete v febric leyer 22 is provided with e slit 23 communiceting with the pocket epertures II end extending therei'rom trensversely of the tepe 'to one longitudinal edge thereof so thet if it is desired to remove the febric leyer 22 from the ground efter the seeds heve grown, the seme mey be done without demege or injury to the plents.

It will thus be Seen thet there is provided e de- Vi0e in which the severel objects 01 this invention ere echieved, end which is weil adepted 1:0 meet the conditions of precticel use.

As verious possible embodiments might be mede of the ebove invention, end es verious chenges might be mede in the embodimenis ebove set forth, lt is to be understood thet all matter herein set Iorth or shown in the eccompenying drewing is to be interjareted es illustrative end not in e limiting sense.

Heving thus described my invention, I cleim es new end desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A seed tepe i'or the cherecter described comprising e top leyer, e bottom leyer end an intermediete 1eyer. e row ot epertures in seid intermediete leyer speced elong the length o! seid tepe, seeds in seid epertures conflned between seid lfol;lflldilll edse oi seid tepe lor the purposes set 2. A seed peckege er tepe ot the cherecter described comprising e top ley'er, e bottom leyer end an intermediete leyer, seid intermediete leyer being provided with e plurelity 018 through eper-- tures. end e slit in seid top leyer communlceting with seid intermediete leyer epertures through whlch to selectlvely insert seeds within the spece defined by seid epertures.

3. A seed peckege or tepe o1 the cherecter described comprising e top leyer e bottoxn leyer end en intennediete leyer, seid intermediete leyer being provided with e plurelity o1 through e'pertures, an opening in seid top leyer communicetin: with seid lnterznediete leyer epertures through which to selectively insert seeds within the spece deilned by seid epertures, end e removeble cover m ember overlying seid top leyer opening end etteched to seid top leyer.

4. A seed peckege or tepe pi the cherecter described edepted to be plented underneeth the surfece 01 the eerth, seid peckege comprising et least three superimposed co-extensive leyers including an intermediete 183781 of e meterielwhich will not reedily dislntegrete, seid leyer heving e plurelity o1 epertures therethrough, end top end bottom leyers of reedily disintegreteble meteriel overlying end underlying seid intermediete leyer end coopereting with seid epertures to form closed seed-conteining peckets from which seid intermediete leyer exiends horizontelly when seid packege 0x tepe is plented. seid intermediete leyer serving to meintein the seeds in plurelity 01 epertures thiarethrough, end top end bottom leyers of reedily disintegreteble meteriel overlying end underlying seid intermediaite leyer end coopereting with seid epertures to iorm closed pockets from which seid intermediete leyer extends horizontelly when seid peckage er tepe is plented, end seeds in seid pockets, seid intermediete leyer serving to meintein seid seeds in position during germinetion end to pievent the growth of weeds between seid epertures. the epertures in seid intermediete leyer communiceting with an edge of seid leyer so thet seid leyer mey be stripmd ewey irom plante grown top end bottom leyers, end slits in seid intermediete leyer communlceting. with seid epertures end extending transversal! therei'rom towerd e from seid seeds wlthout ceusing demege thereto.

6. A seed peckege or tepe of the cherecter described edepted to be piented underneeth the suri'ece o1 the eerth, seid peckege comprising et least three superimposed co-extensive leyers including an intermediete leyer of e. meteriel which will not reedily dlsintegrete due in moisture. seid leyer heving e plurelity of epertures therethrough, end top end bottom leyers 01 reedily disintegreteble meteriel overlying end underbring seid intermedia;te leyer end coopereting with seid epertures bo form closed pockets -irom which seid intermediete leyer extends horizontelly when seid peckege or tepe is plented, end

being mede o1 porous meteriel which will disintegrabe when subjected to moisture, said intermediate layer serving to ma.intain said seeds in position during germination and to prevent the growth of weeds between said apertures, the apertures in sa.id intermediate layer communicating with an edge of said layer so that said -layer may be stripped away from plants grown from the seeds without causing damage thereto.

7. A seed package or tape of the character described adapted to be planted underneath the surface of the earth, said package comprising at least three superimposed co-extensive layers inclu'ding an intermediate layer of a material which will not readily disintegrate and top and bottom layers of readily disintegratable material, said intermediate layer comprising a plurality of longitudina)l strips arranged with their longitudinal edges contiguously disposed and with seeds between said edges and intermediate said top and bottom layers so that said intermediate layer may be stripped away from plants grown from said seeds withoui: ca.using damage thereto, said intermediate layer serving to maintain the seeds in position during germination and to prevent the growth of weeds.

8. A seed package or tape of the character described adapted to be planted underneath the surface o1 the earth, said package comprising at least three superimposed co-extensive layers including an intermediate 1ayer of a. material which will not readily disintegrate and top and bottom layers, said intermediate layer comprising a.

plurality 01 longitudinal strips rranged with relationship to tne notches in the contiguously disposed strip to form pockets between.the strips, said top and bottom layers serving to close said pockets, seeds in said pockets, said top and bottom layers being composed of a. material which will readily disintegrate whereby said intermedia.te layer may be stripped away from plants grown from sa.id seeds without causing damage thereto, said intermediate layer serving to maintain the seeds in position during germination and to prevent the growth of weeds between said pockets.

9. A seed package or tape of the character described adapted to be planted underneath the surface of the earth, said package comprisin'g at least three superimposed co-extensive layers including an intermediate layer of fabric materlal which will not readily disintegrate due to moisture, said layer ha.ving a plurality of predeter minedly arranged apertures therethrough, and top and bottom layers overlying and underlying said intermediate layer and cooperating with said apertures to form closed seed-cofitaining pockets from which said intermediate layer extends horizontally when said packageor tape is planted, said tnp and bottom layers being made of a porous material which will disintegrate when subjected to moisture, said intermediate Iayer serving to maintain the seeds in position during germination and t0 prevent; the growth o1 weeds betw een said pockets, the a.pertures in sa.id intermediaiae 1ayer communicating with an edge 01 said layer so that said layer may be stripped away from plants grown from the seeds without causing damage thereto.

SAMUEL KIRSCHIENBAUM. 

